We must stop giving the silly goals away
Manager Doswell orders Hawks to defend better in Dartford contest
PAUL DOSWELL is urging the Hawks to tighten up defensively as they head to Dartford in National League South on Saturday (3pm).
His team looked far from secure at the back in winning their opening away game 4-3 at Hampton & Richmond Borough in midweek.
Assistant-boss Ian Baird bluntly described the defending as ‘shocking’ after the game, writes Kevin Ricketts.
A big improvement is needed if the Hawks are to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Doswell accepts his team were lucky to win 4-3 after the sloppy errors saw them go 3-1 down.
He said: ‘We won’t win anything if we defend like that.
‘That wasn’t good for my heart rate. I have been a manager for more than 1,100 games and that is probably the highest it has ever been.
‘Our defending was calamitous and it certainly tested my resolve.
‘Dean Beckwith showed his character at the break, holding his hand up and apologising for two of the goals.
‘A player of his experience rarely commits one error let alone two but they were schoolboy errors. ‘Their third goal was equally bad. ‘We allowed players to get into the box and then watched them play one-two's around us. At times we were desperately poor.
‘Let’s be clear about it we got out of jail.’
Once Doswell made a couple of changes and Wes Fogden pulled a goal back the fightback was always on the cards.
The Hawks showed the power they possess going forward with Jonah Ayunga grabbing a brace.
If they can defend better they will fancy their chances of maintain their positive start to the season.